<big>OBJECTIVE:</big>
To construct a centerâfed resonant dipole antenna in EM.Cubeâs [[FDTD Module]], analyze it and visualize its nearand far field characteristics.
<big>YOU WILL LEARN:</big>
A simple halfâwave dipole antenna in free space will be analyzed in the first tutorial. This tutorial will guideyou through all necessary steps required to set up and perform a basic FDTD simulation and visualize andgraph the simulation results.
{{Note|We strongly recommend that you read through the first few tutorials and study them carefully before setting up your own projects.}}
[[Image:fdtd_lec1_1_module.png|600px|right]] You can start drawing objects and build up your physical structure right away. Or you can initiate a new project by selecting the <b>New</b> [[Image:fdtd_newb.png]] button of the System Toolbar (or using the keyboard shortcut <b>Ctrl+N</b>, or via the menu <b>File → New Projectâ¦</b>). This opens up the New Project Dialog, where you can enter a title for your new project and set its path. You can use the Windows Explorer to go to the desired folder where you want toplace your new project folder. For this project, use the title âFDTDLesson1â. From the same dialog, you canalso set the projectâs Length Units, Frequency Units, Center Frequency and Bandwidth. For this tutorial lesson, set the length and frequency units of the project to <b>Millimeters</b> and <b>Gigahertz</b>, respectively, and set both the center frequency and bandwidth to 1GHz. Then, click the <b>Create</b> button of the dialog to accept the settings. A new project folder with your given name is immediately created at your specified path.
[[Image:fdtd_lec1_3_newproject.png|500px|left]] MEM.Cubeâs [[CubeCAD]] Module lets you construct 3D geometries, or import them via external model filessuch as *.stp, *igs, or *.stl. Once these geometries have been modified or completed, they can be moved toother modules within EM.Cube for further simulation. On the other hand, all modules of EM.Cube offer fullCAD operations by themselves. Therefore, you can build a new project from the ground up in any of EM.Cubeâscomputational modules.
[[Image:Fdtd_lec1_2a_unitsfrequency.png|450pix550pix|center]]
[[Image:fdtd_lec1_6_toolbar.png|center|Toolbar]]
Select the Line Tool from the Object Toolbar (or use the keyboard shortcut <b>F3</b>, or the menu <b>Object → Curve → Line</b>). ï
 [[Image:fdtd_lec1_7_toolbarline.png|center||Selecting the Line Tool from the Object Toolbar.]]
With the line tool selected, click the origin (0,0,0), and drag the mouse to start drawing a line. While still in âDraw Modeâ, press and hold the <b>Alt</b> button of the keyboard. This forces the drawn line to be constrained along the alternate Z-axis (normal to the default XY plane on which the mouse pointer moves). Observe the changing Length value in the dialog box as you drag the mouse back and forth. When the length reaches a value of 150 units, left-click to âlock-inâ the value. You may also left-click at any point and adjust the length by typing in a value of 150 in the objectâs property dialog.
[[Image:fdtd_lec1_8_lineproperties.png|center|Setting the line properties.]]
Since the center frequency of the project is 1GHz, the operating wavelength is:
[[Image:fdtd_lec1_wavelength<math>\lambda_0 = c/{1\product 10^9} = 0.png|center]]29979m = 330mm}</math>